Champion Devils Make Move Toward New Jersey Line

Two days after winning the Stanley Cup, the New Jersey Devils took another legal step to break their lease and clear the way for a possible move, perhaps to Nashville, Tenn., after the 1996-97 season.

Even though the Devils on Monday notified the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority of their intent to end their agreement in two years, that doesn’t necessarily mean the NHL team will leave.

Lou Lamoriello, Devil president and general manager, said negotiations will continue with the sports authority. The current lease expires in 2002. He said the team issued its notice to “preserve its legal rights.”

The notice came hours before the Devils announced a celebration honoring the team for Wednesday.

Pro Football

The San Francisco 49ers do not plan legal action over the Raiders’ planned move to Oakland.

The Rams’ long-awaited move became a reality when 11 moving vans arrived in St. Louis.

Cincinnati Bengal President Mike Brown says he will take steps that could lead to a move from the city if officials fail to reach agreement by Thursday on a new football stadium.

Jurisprudence

Pat Riley hired a lawyer the day he resigned as coach of the New York Knicks to handle a potential breach of contract suit, the New York Times reported in today’s editions. Riley is trying to invalidate the fifth and final year of his contract to free himself to coach next season without permission from the Knicks or compensation for his services.

San Antonio Spur Dennis Rodman had unprotected sex with Lisa Beth Judd, a former Atlanta Hawk cheerleader, a day after a Detroit woman went to his home and told him he had given her genital herpes, according to Judd’s attorney, Mark Trigg. But an attorney representing Rodman in a federal lawsuit brought by the Atlanta woman said there was no evidence Rodman has ever had a transmittable form of the incurable disease.

A group of Miami horse owners and trainers sued Hialeah Park and 74 simulcasting outlets in the United States and Canada, claiming they illegally accepted nearly $11 million in off-track wagers.

Basketball

Velimir Perasovic scored 23 points and Toni Kukoc had 10 assists and eight rebounds as Croatia defeated Turkey, 90-68, and Yugoslavia beat Sweden, 85-58, at the European Championship in Athens.

Syracuse’s John Wallace will join Kentucky’s Rodrick Rhodes and remain in college next season and not enter the NBA draft.

K.J. Roberts, who started 46 basketball games for California in three seasons there, has decided to transfer to UC Riverside for his final season.

Miscellany

Jeff Maggert shot a six-under-par 65 to take a one-stroke lead in the suspended first round of the Family House Invitational in Pittsburgh. Thirteen players were on the course when rain forced the suspension of play.

Melchor Cob-Castro of Mexico, the World Boxing Council’s No. 1-ranked light flyweight, was knocked down in the eighth round but won a unanimous decision over Jose De Jesus of Puerto Rico at the Forum.